Edit: I'm noticing the name of the other firewall I was asking about in comparison is &quot;bleeped&quot; -- hope I'm not stepping on any toes or breaking any rules by asking. If so, let me know and I'll delete the thread. Thanks!
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I currently use ZA Free 7.0.302, but due to the size of it (since the Pro stuff is just turned off) and it possibly acting weird, I was going to use ZA Free 6.5.737 on my replacement laptop coming up instead.

**bleep** Free FirewallVersion 2.4 was also recommended to me, and it does look like it might be easier to use for a newbie and provide more information. But then I saw that it supposedly has a vulnerability that won't be fixed until the next version (if that even)...
Link: http://forums.**bleep**.com/leak_tes...-t11187.0.html
(I don't know what any of that means though...)

I am also considering buying the AVG Internet Security, which seems to include a Firewall. How does that one measure up?

This firewall stuff kind of makes my head spin since I'm no expert, but I'm trying to decide what I should go with between these three on my replacement laptop. Opinions with explanations understandable by a non-expert are appreciated!

I'll have Windows XP Pro, I use Firefox for all internet browsing (except for Windows Updates and the occasional Office Updates), and I have dial-up.

Hi!this is a ZA user support forum, so contribution are generally limited to ZA issue. The typical thread "who is best" is usually not always welcomed and not only in this forum. Best depends on many factor and something best for a user may not be best for another.All programs you have mentionedare fineand the only way to know if they work well on your system is to try them.For general firewall comparison see here:www.matousec.com For general AV performances look here:www.av-comparatives.orgAnd remember to have a good backup/image strategy while tryingdifferent security tools, since installing/removing this kind of tools can easily messing up your OS registry or system.Cheers,Fax

...so how bad is this vulnerability? I read that ZA 7 fixed it, but I ZA 7 Free is so huge (because of the turned off Pro stuff) and I think it's been acting weird for me (as you may have seen on my other threads).

Hi!the vulnerability related to the antispyware driver... if you are on ZA free you can just ignore it since there is no spyware protection on the ZAfreeEvery security package has pros/cons and pros/cons can be very subjective... as already mentioned the best is alsways to try them.Cheers,Fax

Hope you're still monitoring this thread (?), but some test results were pointed out to me that I found very disconcerting, and I wanted to get your thoughts on them. I was planning on sticking with ZA free because I've spent so much time learning about it, but then this link was pointed out to me:

Granted, it's ZA 7.0.302 Free (which is what I have now) that they tested, and not ZA 6.x Free (which is what I was planning on using instead), but ZA 7.0.302 Free is rated &quot;Vary Poor&quot; and **bleep** Free is rated #1. I don't know what those tests mean, but I wanted to get your (or anybody's) thoughts on it. Since you folks are the ZA experts, I figured you'd be able to explain what the deal was with this -- thanks!

Hi!you need to make your mind by reading these tests.... do you beleive leaktest is the an important aspects for a firewall?If yes, than choose a firewall with strong leaktests results.... IMO,a firewall is more than passing leaktests... Again, you need to try yourself those firewalls and choose the one you feel works best for you (easy of use, stability, reporting, etc...).You are keeping referring to **bleep** firewall,so why don't you try it and see if you like it and if it works weel for you???Cheers,Fax

What are the pros/benefits of ZA 6.5.737 over the **bleep** one then?

Thanks for the replies. I am just trying to get as fully informed as possible before installing a firewall on my new laptop because uninstalling a firefall can always lead to issues (so I'm hoping to make the right choice from the start). Hope that makes sense.

Can you (or anybody here) tell me the benefits/pros of ZA 6.5.737 over that other firewall in question then? I understand that &quot;leak tests&quot; are only one aspect (not that you have explained that), but what are the pros/benefits of the ZA one in question? (Even if I tried them both out myself, I wouldn't be able to tell the differences in the pros/benefits because I'm a computer layman -- so that's why I ask the experts).

Re: What are the pros/benefits of ZA 6.5.737 over the **bleep** one then?

Hi!there is a firewall comparison here: http://www.matousec.com/projects/win...is/results.phpThis may help on the task of assessing firewalls.I am sorry but I can't help on choosing ZA instead of XYZ. This is not my task here.All products are good and they will protect you, you need to try them and see which one you like mostThank you for your understanding.Fax